Mail-bag parachute



Dec. 6, 1932. GRAEFF 1,890,083

MAIL BAG PARAGHUTE Original Filed Dec. '12. 1929 .3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.6, 1932. c. M GRAEFF MAIL BAG PARACHUTE a sheets-sheei 2 Original FiledD60. 12. 1929 M w m a Dec. 6, 1932. c. M. GRAEFF MAIL BAG PARACHUTEOriginal Filed Dec. 12. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnmntow (5 17.6 77; m

iatented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT omce Main-nae PARACHU'IE alication filed December 12, 1929, Serial in. 413,623. Renewed April '23,1932.

This invention relates to parachutes and particularly to parachutes forlanding mail from airplanes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a parachute ofsuch construction that it will open readily when dropped from the mailplane. Further to provide a parachute structure to which mail bags orcontainers may be readily attached or detached.

Another object is to so connect the cords from the parachute to the mailbag support that there will be no tendency to draw the edge of theparachute inward by the weight of the bag.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein VFigure 1 is an elevation of a parachute constructed in accordance withmy inventiony Figure is a fragmentary detailed view of the parachuteshowing the manner of ts formation Figure 3 is an enlarged section onthe line 3-8 of Figure 2, but showing the rope in P Figure 4 is afragmentary plan view of a modification of the parachute; g

Figure 5 is a like view to Figure 4 but showing a still furthermodification of the form of parachute sections;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of parachute section; I

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of mail bag support;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the lower end of the bag support shown inFig. 7 with the pin in place; h

Fig. 9 is an elevation taken at right angles 7 to Fig. 8 and partly insection; h

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of F ignre 9; g

Figure 11 is an elevation of one of the ring supporting ropes used inconnection with the parachute section shown in Fig. 6, the figureshowing in section the mail bag the parachute 10 is formed of a seriesof sec- 5 tions 11, each of these sections ,being of the same generalcharacter and each having the specific form shownin Figure 2. Thesesectionsin actual practice will have an overall length of about eightfeet nine inches and a width at the widest part ,of about eighteeninches. Each of these sections or panels 11 ias itslateral edgesextending downward and outward from the upper tip end of the panel as at12, then extending inward as at 13 to a distance ofabout nine inchesfrom the widest part of the panel, then extended downward a distance ofabout six inches as at 141- to form a tab which is approximately threeinches, wide and which is capable of being folded backupon itself toforma double thickness. This double thickness is stitched as at 15 allaround its margin and inserted in this stitched portionand stitchedthereto is a ring or grommet 16. h h

The several panels 11 are, stitched together around their margins downto the beginning of the inwardly convergent portions 13, thus leaving aseries of flaps 16. extending loosely below the body portion. of theparachute, these flaps being free. Connected to the extremities of theseflaps are the cords 17 which extenddo'wn to a metallic ring 18 and areconnected thereto. Preferably, though I do not wish to be limited tothis, there ispassed through each of the tabs 1 1a horseshoe-shapecl'transversely curved shield 19, the upper end of the cord or rope 17being formed to provide; a loop disposed within said shield. This shieldis preferably made of steel andjthe shield may be placed through theeyes or grommets 16 so that the rope will not be chafedon the eyes orgrommets. The shield 19 in this case will rub against the metal eyeandthe rope will be thoroughly protected so that it cannot wear out. Thelower ends of the ropes or cords 17 are also formedpreferablywith, loopspassing through U-shaped shields 19*, these in of panel 11, I do notwish to be limited to this.

In Figure 4, I show a form of panel designated 11 which is approximatelythe same form as that shown in Figure 2 and having an elongated neckportion. A. quarter inch rope 22 may beattache'd to this panel bystitches along; its entire length or otherwise and this rope extendsdown the middle ofthe panel and down the middle of the narrow neck atthe lower end thereof. These ropes 22 may either be connected to therings or ropes 17 in any desired manner or might be continued on downto'the ring 18 and connected thereto, as shown in Figure 1. Of course,this constructionof parachute tends to strengthen the parachute itselfso that there is no dan er of its wrapping or the ropes tearing loose.

In Figure 5, I show another form of parachute in which each section 11,instead of being formed with a. narrowed lower end is cut away at itsmiddle as at 23 so that the section instead ofbeing'spear-shaped-isarrow-shaped. These sections may be stitched alongtheir side edges to each other, as shown in Figure 5 and this willprovide a parachute having a. series of scallops or depending flaps 1extending around the loweredge of the parachute. To these flaps,-thesupporting ropes 17 will be engaged in any desired manner, as forinstance, the manner heretofore dey scribed. In this form of theinvention, the

ropes 2 1 may also be sewed into the seams between the sections andthese ropes may be f continued down and engaged with the ring from anairplane.

The depending flaps at the margins of the parachute can be either halfround or approximately triangular in shape as desired.

7 or any other fabric.

The parachute can be made of silk, canvas InFigure 6, I showanother formof parachute section which is designated 11. This is rounded at itslower end as is the parachute section shown in Figure 2, but instead ofhaving a depending tab 14, a tab 14 is provided which is bent back uponthe body of the parachute section 11 and is sewed thereto and held tothe body by means of the grommet 16 The rope 17 with its shield 19 maybe used in connection with this construction or not as desired. On theother hand, these parachute sections at their lower ends may beconnected to the ring 18 previously'described by means of double snaphooks -as illustrated in Figure 11, these snap hooks being operativelyconnected to and engagedwith the ends of the rope sec- .tions 26. Asillustrated in Figure 7, the

frame'for supporting the mail bag mayconsist of the hoop 18 aspreviously described, the downwardly extending convergent members 20 butneed not support the snap hook shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9.is shown a latch whereby the mail bag may be heldpositively engaged and if desired locked to the parachute. To this endthe lower end 20 of the shank formed by the conjoined elements 20 shownin Figure 7 or the conjoined elements shown in Figure 1 isv angularlybent as at 27 and apertured (see Figure 9.) Passing up through thisaperture is the pin 28 having a head at its lower end and having atransverse pin 29 to prevent the pin 28 dropping downwardentirelythrough the aperture in the lug 27. The upper end of this pin 28is slotted for the passage of thehasp 30 projecting from the shank 20. p

A padlock may be disposed through this hasp. It will be noted thatthe'aperture in the lug 28 may be expanded so as to permit the pintorock outward. When the pin is rocked outward, a strap of a mail bag may.be passed over the pin and the pin may be then brought back intoparallelism with the shank 20 engaged with the hasp and'then engagedwith the padlock inserted through the hasp.

It will be understood, of course, that this means of connecting themailbag to the parachute may be used with any form of parachute whichhas' been illustrated. I

I do not wish to be limited to a parachut having a circular formas theparachute in plan might have other forms without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I The particular advantage in the formof the parachute described is thatI have found in practice that a parachute having'these depending flapswhich are free at their side edges will open quicker than where themargin of theparachute is not provided with these flaps. Furthermore Ihave found that the parachute holds the air better.

I claim I v 1. A mail parachute for mail planes formed by a series ofpanels stitched to each other,

lit

the panels being formed at their lower ends to provide aseries ofdepending flaps, each flap at its lower end being formed to provide afolded over tab, a grommet disposed in said folded over tab, ropeshaving their upper ends formed with loops to pass through said grommets,and metallic shields embracing said loops, an apertured ring throughwhich said ropes extend, the lower ends of the ropes having loopspassing through the apertures of said ring, metallic shields embracingthe loops and preventing chafing against ring, and means depending fromsaid ring for detachably engaging the mail bag.

2. A parachute of the character described, having a plurality ofdownwardly extending convergent ropes, a ring with which said ropes areconnected, the ring at its lower end having a depending shank, a mailbag latch connected to said shank and adapted to detachably engage aportion of a mail bag, the latch comprising an angular lug at the lowerend of the shank, a pin extending upward through said lug, and a haspwith which the upper end of the lug is engaged, the hasp being adaptedto engage a padlock.

3. A mail parachute comprising a parachute proper, the lower margin ofthe parachute being provided with a series of spaced grommets, metallicmembers engagin through said grommets and engaging with a series ofdepending ropes, a ring, snap hooks at the lower ends of the ropesengageable with said ring, the ring having means 3; whereby a mail bagmay be supported therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES M. GRAEFF.

